Dental Crowns

Crowns are most often used for teeth that are broken, worn, or have portions destroyed by tooth decay. Crowns are a type of dental restoration used to restore or replace damaged or missing tooth structures to optimal shape, size and function. The placement of a dental crown can protect the remaining healthy tooth structure and improve esthetics, all while maintaining proper biting functions. 

Crowns are “caps” cemented onto an existing tooth that fully cover the portion of your tooth above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes your tooth’s new outer surface. Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, or both. Porcelain crowns are most often preferred because they mimic the translucency of natural teeth and are very strong.

Your prosthodontist may suggest a crown to:

• Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
• Restore a tooth that is already broken or severely worn
• Stabilize a dental bridge
• Use in coordination with a dental implant
• Enhance the esthetics of your smile
• Prevent future infection in root canal treated teeth

Crowns or onlays (partial crowns) are needed when there is insufficient tooth strength remaining to hold a filling. Unlike fillings, which apply the restorative material directly onto your tooth, a crown is fabricated away from your mouth. Your crown is created in a lab from your unique tooth impression or digital scan that allows a dental laboratory technician to examine all aspects of your bite and jaw movements. Your crown is then sculpted just for you so that your bite and jaw function normally once the crown is placed.

At Advanced Prosthodontics & Implant Esthetics, we work very close with quality dental laboratories and take pride in our constant communication and collaborations with these companies. In addition, we have an in-office master dental ceramist who characterizes our dental crowns to ensure exceptional esthetics prior to cementing permanent restorations.